Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 657,957. Patented Spt. [8, I900.

H. L. PYLE. ACE'TYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed June 7, 1900.

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS PETER! ca. PNUIO-g.m-|0.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

Patented Sept. l8, I900.

H. L. PYLE. AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed June 7, 1900.

@MWW

UNITED STATES;

T TENT ()FFICE.

AMERICAN CARBIDE LAMP co SYLVANIA.

MPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN- Ao ETYLEN E-GAS GENERATOR.

s'PE'cI F'IcATIoN refinin part of Letters Patent No. 657,957, dated September 18, 1960.

Application filed J'upe 7,1900. Serial No. 19,449. (No model.)

To all whom it may concert La Be it known that I, HOWARD LJPYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Generating Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the'following to beafull, clear,'and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference thereon. I I

This invention relates to improvements-in apparatus for generating gas, and more espe-"j cially to that class of apparatus designed to or as afiecting the production of gas 'and pressure in the service-main.

A further object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which may be readily removed for repairs or renewal in case of injury without dismantling the entire apparatus.

To the above ends the invention consists in certain novel details of construction andcombinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be now described, and pointed outparticularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aside elevation of 'a'gas-generating apparatus embodying my present improvements, Fig. 2 isafrontelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan view. Fig. 4is a vertical section taken centrally of Fig. 2 and showing all'the parts in section. Fig. 5 is a detail section, on an enlarged scale, taken vertically through the hopper-valve.

Like letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

In carrying this invention into practice a casing, preferably of sheet metal, is provided,

marked will be hereinafter more fully explained. The

compartment A is the generating-compartment, and it is preferably provided with an inclinedbottom a, which willcause the spent 'l" he? or "other material to seek the lowest point in the compartment, whereby it may be eadily blown off through a-cock or outlet at.

' The compartment A constitutes the balancecompartment, the height of the water therein determining the gas-pressure in the compartment A, and'communication between the two compartmentsis secured, primarily, through a narrow horizontal opening B in the partition A whichopening B is located some {distance below the normal water-level in the compartment A. The opening B is prefer-,

ably located such distance below the normalwatr-level in the compartment A as that when the water-level inthe compartment A has been lowered until gas will escape through the opening B the water in the com part'ment A will have approximately filled the compartment,-although the capacity of the com artment A ma be increased if so desired, without affecting the operation of the device. The'condition last mentioned is an abnormal condition, however, and the gasescaping through the openingB is adapted to pass off into the atmosphere through a vent- ;pipe B in the top of the compartment A.

Gas generated in the compartment A is for service adapted to pass out at the top of the compartment through a pipe 0, controlled by fa valve 0, and thence through a drier T, to

A, and a cap G, in or on which the working mechanism is mounted, is adapted to fit and be secured in place upon said seat by suitable bolts or fastenings f.

The working mechanism comprises a hopper H, having any desired capacity for the carbid or gas-producing material and mounted on or in connection with a duct or channel-way H for conducting the carbid down into the compartment A, while in such duct or controlling the entrance and exit thereof are two valves, the lowermost one being an automatic valve controlled in its operation by the water-level in the compartment A, while the other or upper valve is a manuallycontrolled valve and is adapted to be closed during the time the hopper is being refilled. The lower or automatic valve is preferably an oscillatory valve I, mounted on a shaft t and adapted to swing back and forth to open or close more or less an opening h, constituting the exit of the channel H. The valve I is preferably adjustably connected with the shaft i, and in addition said shaft is provided with a float K, preferably of segmental shape and of relatively-large area, so as to have suflicient power to cut or crush any small particles of carbid which might become wedged between the valve and the seat. The float K is also adj ustably connected with the shaft 1', and the shaft itself is mounted to oscillate in bearings in the side walls of the cap G, one end being extended through a stuffingbox 1" in one wall of the cap and provided with a handle or indicator V, which may be manipulated from the outside of the apparatus for admitting carbid or for indicating to the attendant the conditions existing within the compartment A.

The upper valve for closing the exitof the hopper is preferably a slide-valve L,adapted to be manipulated by a handle or rod' M, extending through a suitable packed openingin the valve-casing, and in order that the valve L may be brought to a perfect seat, so as to which the end of the rod M'turns, and the bodyof the rod is threaded and meshes with a threaded projection Zon thevalve L. In manipulating the valve a turn or twoina, reverse direction will release the valve from its seat, when the rod may be drawn out, carrying the valve clear away from the openingin the bottom of the'hopper and back into the recess N in the valve-casing, while to close said valve it is pushed inwardly as far aspossible, thus wiping oif the valve-seat or top face of the valve, and a turn or two of the, rod M will bring the wedge or inclined faces L into operation, forcing the valve firmly up against its seat and cutting 0% all communication with the hopper.

The hopper, it will be understood, is adapted to be normally sealed against the external atmosphere or the escape of gas from within by means of a cap or closure 0, which may be screwed into place or otherwise securely clamped, and in order to prevent the escape of the gas which would be caught in the hopper when the valve L is closed I provide a pump or exhaust device which will force such gas back into the compartment A. The desired result is best secured by means of a hand pump P, suitably mounted on the top of the compartment A and having its inlet-pipe p leading from the top of the hopper, while its outlet-pipe 10 leads into the compartment- A and is controlled by a stop-cock 19 With this arrangement, now, when the attendant desiresto refill the hopper H or when by an in spection throughthe sight-openings Qhe finds that the carbidis becoming exhausted he may close the valve L, leaving sufiicient carbid below said valve for consumption during the interim, and will then open the cook 19 and by means of the pump P draw the gas from the hopper H and force the same into the compartment A. The hopper H may then be opened and filled with fresh material, the valve L opened, and the automatic feed, will continue, as before, The carbid delivered by the automatic valve into the compartment A naturally gravitates to the bottom, and in orderv to prevent any possible bubbling of the rising gases through the openingB such opening B is preferably protected by a partitionwallf, extending upwardly in the compartment A to a point somewhat above said opening. Hand-holes R and R are provided at bottom and top of the compartment A to facilitate the cleaning of such compartment should, it become necessary at any time, and in order to clean the compartmentA or free the lower-portion thereof from sediment asiphon S extends from the bottom of that compartment over into proximity to the cleanout cock 0/ in the compartment A. Thus whenever said cock isopened it creates a suction through said siphon and draws a portion of the water, at least, from the bottom of the compartment A. This siphon S may be freed from airor gas by means of a tube 8, extending up th ough the top of the casing and provided with a suitable cock .9.

After passing from the compartment A the gas, as before stated, passes through a drier, whichdrier is in the form of a supplemental generator in that it is filled or partially filled lwith calciumcarbid, through which the gas is caused to pass, and thusany moisture contained by the gas combines with such calcium carbid in the production of more gas, and the ultimate product is dried and free from moisture. This drier, lettered T in the ac- ;companying drawings, is a simple compartment having a series of shelves of wire-mesh it, upon which calcium carbid may be placed LOO and through which the gas passes to the service-main. The drier or supplemental generator is filled through an opening in the front provided with a cap T, and in order toprevent the gas from passing around the carbid contained in the casing T after the cap has been put in position the inner side of said cap is filled with mineral wool or-like neutral substance, which will bear against the car-bid and close any passage around the same. Should there be any amount of condensation in the pipe leading from the compartment A to the casing T, it may be drawn off through a drip-cock U at the lowest point in said pipe.

As before explained, theapparatus is designed more especially for use on railwaycars, and it will be observed that in such use there is what might be termed substantially a static balance between the two columns of water in the compartments A and A, the two compartments being preferably of such cross-sectional area as to secure the best results in this respect and so that vertical vibration or motion of the car will not cause the water to surge back and forth through the opening B; but pressure on both sides of the central portion being substantially equalized there will be little or no fluctuation in gas-pressure from this cause. By increasing the height and reducing the cross-sectional area of the compartment A a greater gaspressure may be secured, or by adopting other proportions a less gaspressure may be secured, and in order that there may be pure water in the compartment A it is preferred that when it becomes necessary to supply additional water it be supplied through an opening V in this latter compartment, thus tending to keep it at all times clean, and consequently requiring but-little, if any, cleani-ng because of sedimentation. The Water may be added even while the apparatus is in use, and thus it-is found that with an apparatus of this kind it is never necessary to reduce the pressure on the working mains so long as the apparatus is in working condition.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a gas-generating apparatus, the combination with a casing separated by a partition into two compartments one extending above the other and communicating through an opening in the partition at a point near, but not at, the bottom, the taller compartment being open to the atmosphere at the top and the shorter compartment beingclosed to the atmosphere, of a closed carbid-holder communicating with the closed compartment, a valve controlling the feed of carbid, afloat in the closed compartment controlling the valve, a gas-main leading from the closed compartment and a shield extending past the opening in the partition for preventing the entry of gas being generated into the open compartment; substantially as described.

2. In a gas-generating apparatus the combination with a casing constituting a water and gas holder, of a cap detachably secured on and forming one corner of said casing, a carbid-holder on the exterior of said cap and a valve controlling the feed of carbid and a float controlling the valve both pivotally mounted directly on and entirely supported by the cap within the casing; substantially as described.

3. In a gas-generating apparatus,-the combination with a casing forming a gas-generating and water-holding compartment and having an inclined seat at the top extending diagonally across one corner of the casing, of a removable cap constituting the corner of the casing mounted on said seat and carbidfeeding mechanism includinga float and valve both pivotally mounted directly on andremovable with said cap; substantially as described.

4. In a gas-generating apparatus the combination with the generating-compartment adapted for the reception of a body of water and means for feeding carbid thereto and a second compartment communicating therethe bottom, of a siphon connecting the bot-v tom portions of the two compartments.

5. In a gas-generating apparatus the combination with the generating-compartment and means for feeding carbid thereto and a second compartment extendingabove thefirstmentioned compartment into which wateris supplied for both compartments, of a siphon connecting the lower portions of the two compartments and serving to allow the water to flow from either compartment into the other from points near the bottom and a blow-off cock for discharging sediment; substantially as described.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the casing having a vertical partition and extending upwardly to a greater height on one-side of said partition than on the other to form a balance-chamber open to the air, said chambers being in communication through an opening in the partition located approximately midway of the height.

of the partition whereby the gas may escape when generated in excessive quantity and means for feeding carbid, of abottom for the generating-chamber sloping away from the partition, a duct independent of said opening extending to a point in proximity to the lowest point in the generating-chamber for draining one chamber into the other and a liquid blow-0E at the lowest point in the generatingchamber; substantially as described.

7. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination with the casing and a removable cappiece forming one corner of said casing, of a carbid-holder mounted on the top of said cappiece, a transverse shaft journaled in the side walls of said cap-piece, a valve carried by saidshaft for controlling the feed of carbid, a segmental float adj ustably connected with said shaft and a handle connected with the .with below the water-level and near but not'at I shaft and projecting on the exterior of the entirely mounted on and supported by the cap, whereby the position of the shaft and cap-piece said float being pivotally mounted valve isindicated and the valvemaybeopened between the side-Wall portions of the capor closed manually; substantially as depiece, whereby when the latter is removed it 5 scribed. Will carry with it the entire carbid-feeding I5 8. In an acetylene-gas generator the commechanism; substantially as described. bination With the casing, of an integral cap- HOWARD L. PYLE.

piece forming a portion of both the top and Witnesses: side walls of said casing and carbid feeding HANS WENIGER,

10 and controlling mechanism including a float F. W. SIEDTKY. 

